Kotoōshū Katsunori or Kaloyan Stefanov Mahlyanov, (Калоян Стефанов Махлянов in Bulgarian) was born in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

Weight: 152 kg; Height: 203 cm;

He became a professional sumo wrestler or rikishi. He is currently ranked as an ōzeki or ‘champion’, the second-highest level in the sumo ranking system behind only yokozuna. Popular with the Japanese public because of his good looks, he has been called the “David Beckham of Sumo” and the “Prince of Sumo,” although he expressed displeasure with the former moniker. On May 24, 2008, Kotooshu made history by becoming the first European sumo wrestler to win an Emperor’s Cup.

His name is derived from his place of origin — koto, shared by all wrestlers at his stable, and ōshū, meaning Europe.